shout of Israel's King in our little camp: some of the soldiers present roared out, as did many of the poor Blacks, so that my voice could not be heard for some time. We sang a verse after, and hardly knew how to leave the chapel; this is my favourite place, a little chapel, about the size of Mouldsworth, and where we have one hundred members. The work has been reviving there lately; twenty or more have been added to the society. I returned to Sandy-Point for the evening service, and the Lord gave me fresh vigour to preach with liberty, from Isaiah xl. 3, 4, 5. Thus ended my sabbath's work. The Conference has put us down for our present situation, which is highly pleasing to us, and satisfactory to the people, if the District meeting does not alter our appointment. In another letter to his brother, he says, Blessed be God, my dear Betsy was yesterday (Nov. 3,) safely delivered of a fine boy. How thankful do we feel now the event is over! Many circumstances accompanying it, I might relate, that tend to increase our gratitude to God, and to assure us of his most watchful care of us both. My dear partner got through her travail remarkably well. She was, and is still most graciously supported. The friends here are kind and attentive beyond measure. Congratulations poured in on every side, as soon as the event was known. At the prayer-meeting the same evening, it was quite a time of thanksgiving. The people were full of it, conceiving it to be a great honour to have a little massa missionary born among them. It is amazing what love and affection they have for my dear Betsy, and she loves them more and more. Two of our very respectable coloured women were with my dear partner during the whole of the trying season, and she tells me they conducted themselves like mothers towards her. There were also two other respectable members of our society (young women) waiting to do any thing necessary. I am thus full, to shew that the people here are not wanting in their regard and affection towards us. And to console the minds of our dear parents at Bradford and Newton, and our dear relatives at Chester, &c. Nov. 6. It is our custom (in St. Kitts) after giving tickets, and holding love-feasts every quarter, to have watch-nights at five of our principal places round the island. We were taking our tour the last week, and were about to proceed to Cagon, our last plate, when intelligence reached me respecting Betsy's indisposition; so that I hastened home. However, I send you a sketch of our round. Monday night. At Basseterre, brother Hyde preached from Rev. x. 5, 6; afterward I exhorted and prayed; brother Gilgrass followed; afterward brother Hyde concluded. A great congregation, near 1000 people attended, and they were very lively with their hearty amens. Tuesday night. At the Old Road,I preached from Matt. xx. 6, with some freedom, though the congregation here is not so lively as at Basseterre. Brother Gilgrass began exhorting, and I rode home. SAT Wednesday night., We had a noble company at Sandy Point; bro ther Gilgrass preached from Psalm lxxxix. 15, 16. Brother Hyde then exhorted; after which I said a few words. Many of the people said they could have stayed all night. It was a good time to most present. I trust we shall have a little revival amongst us. At Deep Bay we had a crowded chapel. On Thursday night brother Gilgrass preached a good sermon from Philemon 15: I then exhorted brother Hyde closed the meeting with a general exhortation. The next morning we had a prayer-meeting early, as I am partial to early rising; we had 40 or 50 present: we dismissed them about half past five. Afterwards I went with one of our leaders to visit some of our members who live far distant, and are like sheep without a shepherd. I felt my soul refreshed among them. THE PRESENT STATE OF THE RELIGIOUS The Religious Tract Society, which, under the fostering care of the Great Head of the Church, and the beneficent support of the Religious Public, has attained its Twenty-Second Year, is at length, by the magnitude of its operations, and the urgent claims on its resources, driven to the necessity of making an earnest appeal to the friends of Christianity and of the immortal interests of Man. It can scarcely be requisite to inform those who are in any measure acquainted with the proceedings of this Society, that the Tracts issued from its Depository convey to the reader a condensed view of the plan of redemption, by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ; and that the general character by which its conductors have endeavoured to distinguish its publications, is thus described in the Address of the Committee to Christians, on the Distribution of Religious Tracts. "They should consist of Pure Truth. This, flowing from the Sacred Fountain of the New Testament, should run from beginning to end, uncontaminated by error, undisturbed with human systems; clear as crystal, like the river of life. There should be nothing in them of the shibboleth of a Sect: nothing to recommend one denomination, or to throw odium on another; nothing of the acrimony of contending parties against those that differ from them; but pure good-natured Christianity, in which all the followers of the Lamb who are looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, can unite with pleasure, as in one great common cause. Nor should any worldly scheme be interwoven with the truth, nor attempted to be concealed under its folds; here should not be seen the slightest vestige of any carnal end, in any form or for any purpose, however laudable some may think it; nothing but Divine Truth, unmingled, unadulterated, pure as it came from Heaven, and fit for the whole human race to imbibe." Within the last Year, the almost incredible number of more than Five Millions and a Half of these Heralds of Salvation have run to and fro; and of this number, Six Hundred Thousand, which were chiefly intended to counteract the awful principles and pernicious consequences of infidelity, were distributed within about nine weeks. By these unparalleled exertions, the Society has become involved in temporary difficulties, so that a debt of upwards of Three Thousand Pounds, due early in the current Year, has been inevitably incurred. Although such is the present condition of the Religious Tract Society, the Committee rather rejoice in the extensive benefits which have resulted from those efforts, while they look up to Him whose is the silver and the gold, and who has said, “Ye are my witnesses; go preach the Gospel to every creature-freely ye have received, freely give;" with the cheering hope, that no sooner shall this statement be brought in contact with the sacred feelings and holy principles of all real Christians, than one generous and general exclamation shall be made,-"Go forward-and we will extricate you from your difficulties, and replenish your treasury." In Great Britain and Ireland, multitudes are yet perishing, whose hearts have never been cheered by the glad tidings of redemption, through the cross of Christ ;-and in foreign climes, millions are living in the region of the shadow of death, whose eyes have never beheld the light of the glorious Gospel of God. On behalf of these destitute fellow-sinners, applications are incessantly making to the Committee, and they dare not refuse to meet them, while British Christians have enough and to spare. 1 On British liberality the Committee now, therefore, confidently cast their burdens, convinced that the embarrassment of the Religious Tract Society need only be known, to be speedily removed; and so numerous are the attested instances of conversion to God, and of spiritual blessings conveyed by the instrumentality of these little messengers of Divine mercy, that, anticipating an advantageous result from this appeal to so many of their esteemed fellow Christians, the Committee feel encouraged to address themselves to the farther prosecution of their labours, with renewed satisfaction and ardour, trusting that they will not be obliged to withhold those supplies, which the moral desolations of a fallen world so imperatively demand. The Committee, therefore, earnestly and affectionately solicit the Friends of the Society to come forward and make a simultaneous and rigorous effort in its behalf. LEGH RICHMOND, A.M. COMMITTEE-Rooм, 14, Newgate-Street, OBITUARY. To the Editor of the Methodist Magazine, I take the liberty of writing to inform you, that on the 22d of last October died Mr. Thomas Smith, in the 74th year of his age. He was a respectable farmer, who resided at Chillsworth farm, in the Oxford circuit, within seven miles of that city. He died in peace, and had a glorious Secretaries. hope of immortality; which hope was founded on the infinite merits of him who hath said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die." During the whole of his religious life, and in his severe struggles with his last enemy, he knew well, and ex plicitly avowed his full persuasion, thatOther foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." He had been, for abont 56 years a regular and worthy member of the Wesleyan Methodist Society; and the venerable Founder of our Connexion frequently honoured him by his friendly visits to his hospitable habitation; and also baptized, on these occasions, several of our late friend's children. Of late Mr. S. had for many years filled the important offices of classleader and local preacher; the duties of which stations be performed according to the best of his abilities, with zeal, fidelity, and affection; and in his work he took great delight. During the last twelve months of his life, a very painful and trying affliction sapped the foundation of his excellent constitution, and ultimately terminated his mortal life. But even while affliction and death were destroying his "earthly house," when the rapid approach of dissolution confined him to his bed, he had his family called into his room, where more than once he exhorted them "to flee from the wrath to come; by giving all diligence to make their calling and election sure:" so that he may be said to have laid down his charge with his body, and to have ceased "at once, to work and live." May all his children, "know" the "God of" their "father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind!" An early insertion of this article in your interesting, and widely-circulated Magazine, will greatly oblige both the family of our deceased friend, and, Rev. Sir, Your's most respectfully, ROBERT MARTIN. Oxford, Dec. 29th, 1820. Dec. 11th, 1820, died at Stockton, Mr. Thomas Dixon, aged 75 years. He was brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus in the 19th year of his age, and soon after that he began to preach the gospel in the capacity of a local preacher. And as his labours in this way were greatly owned of God in the conversion of sinners, Mr. Wesley, and some of the preachers then labouring with him, thought it proper for him to be more fully called into the work of the ministry; and in April, 1769, he was sent to the Tanderagée circuit, in Ireland, and at the next Conference he was appointed to the Castlebar circuit. From this time till the year 1804, he continued to travel as an itinerant preacher, with respectability and usefulness. A stoppage in his breast was then so great that it was thought proper for him to desist from travelling. Accordingly he settled in Stockton, where he continued to labour by preaching, visiting the sick, leading classes, and holding prayer-meetings, fill the time of his death. This was to his friends unexpected, as he continued in his usual state of health till the last day of his life. On the Sunday morning his seat in the chapel was empty, which led many of his friends to his house to inquire after him, and to see him. He spoke of his approaching dissolution with great pleasure to several, assuring them that he had had such a manifestation of the goodness of God to his soul that morning, as could be nothing less than the earnest of what he was soon to enjoy in heaven. At night he eat his supper in rather better spirits than he had done for a few days, and retired to rest; but before the light of the morning appeared, his spirit had taken its flight to eternal rest. Thus died this aged servant of Christ in great peace, and is now gone to his grave unusually respected, and deeply lamented by the people in Stockton. I shall close this notice of Mr. Dixon's death by giving a copy of a written paper found among his papersafter his death, and which appears to be the last which he wrote respecting the state of his mind. It is ex-actly as follows: "A particular manifestation of God to my soul.-Oct. 20th, at a public prayer-meeting in the chapel, while I was at prayer a peculiar light and Divine glory darted upon my mind, I had a sort of representation of Christ as my Lord upon the cross, dying for me. It appeared as though his friends were letting down the cross upon which he hung. I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but by the eye of my mind by faith. In consequence thereof, I felt such light, power, and love to God and man as I never felt before, and this was at a time when I had been long labouring under a dark gloomy dispensation, through the loss of my dear wife, and other painful things which grew out of it; but since that time I felt such peace and liberty as I never felt before. Lord, keep me in this state of happiness to the end. "THOMAS DIXON. "Stockton, Oct. 23, 1820." In this state he was kept to the end. The distinguishing traits of brother Dixon's character were humility, piety, benevolence, and zeal for the glory of God, and the salvation of souls. As he has left a long account of his experience and his travels, it is hoped that some of his friends will favour the Editor of our Magazine with a large memoir of this worthy servant of Christ. J. MANN. Stockton, Dec. 16, 1820. Died, Oct. 31st, 1819, Mrs. King, of King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire, aged 59. In 1805, the Methodist preachers visited King's Cliffe. Mrs. King, who had previously been in a measure enlightened, became a regular hearer. In a little time she joined the society, and obtained that salvation which she had the privilege of hearing so explicitly and faithfully preached. The remaining fifteen years of her life were sincerely, deeply, and uniformly devoted to God. Never, in any one instance, did she discredit the cause she had so decidedly and affectionately espoused. She was, indeed, an ornamental and useful member of our society. I have met with few who were so affectionately and invincibly attached to Christ and his cause. She was nearly universally esteemed and beloved; even "the enemies of religion" venerated Mrs. King. She shone with peculiar lustre among the sick and the dying; among whom her presence and judicious assistance were esteemed a privilege even by those "who were without God." Mrs. King was, almost invariably, the first person who entered the chapel. It is calculated that she spent about a quarter of an hour in devout prayer and meditation in the chapel, on three thousand different occasions before any of the congregation entered! 1. Her only surviving son, for whom she had offered up ten thousand prayers, was deeply affected by her death-bed scene, and has since obtained a conscious sense of the forgiveness of sin. Her three amiable: daughters have, for several years, followed the example of their pious mother. I had the privilege of conversing and praying with her a few minutes before she expired. The scene was extremely interesting. No harassing fear,---no painful doubt disturbed her happy soul. She had frequently prayed that the Lord would favour her with an easy passage out of time into eternity. Her request was granted. With a heavenly smile on her countenance she serenely exchanged worlds. JAS. PENMAN. Stamford, July, 1820. LITERARY NOTICE. 1 The Society for promoting Christian Knowledge and Church. Union in the Diocese of St. David's, have adjudged their premium of fifty pounds to the Rev. S. C. Wilks, A. M. of Oxford, Author of "Christian Essays," "Christian Missions;" and of the St. David's Prize Essay, on "The Necessity of a Church Establishment in a Christian country, for the preservation of Christianity among the people of all ranks and denominations; and on the means of exciting and maintaining, among its members, a spirit of devotion, together with zeal for the honour, stability, and influence of the Established Church." |